Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Solace	By : Brightdreamer Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kouga/InuYasha Views: 5372 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Awakening
- 2-Shock
- 3-Numb
- 4-Catharsis
- 5-Quest
- 6-Routine
- 7-Mortal
- 8-Beginning
- 7
- 8
Author: Eloy Brightdreamer

Rating: R

Genre: Angst/Romance

Summary: After a terrible tragedy strikes, how will Inuyasha and Kouga cope?

Warnings:

1. YAOI! This means romance and/or sex involving two male characters. Don't like it? Don't read it!

2. Character death.
*************************************
Chapter 7: Beginning
Kouga curled slightly as he awoke, unwilling to stir from the comfortable warmth. He blinked, confused by the soft weight covering him. Looking down, he saw Inuyasha�s red haori spread over him, the material pleasantly warmed by the late morning sun. With a yawn, he sat up, then glanced around for his companion. Inuyasha was sitting nearby, poking absently at several small fish roasting on sticks by a small fire. �You slept long enough,� he grumbled, raising his head as Kouga stirred.
The wolf prince stood and stretched. �Hey, I was up all night keeping your sorry ass alive, so don�t complain.� Tossing the hanyou�s coat his direction, he moved to sit by the fire and grabbed for a fish. Inuyasha huffed at the comment, but didn�t reply.
The two ate in silence for a long while. Several times, Kouga caught the hanyou looking like he wanted to say something, but he always just took another bite instead. The uncomfortable air developing in the camp was starting to annoy the wolf. Finally, he leaned back, chewing on the tail of the last fish. �So, when are you gonna thank me for saving your life?� he asked with a smirk.
Inuyasha choked and glared at him. �What makes you think I�m gonna thank you?�
Kouga rolled his eyes. �Oh, come on. I know you want to.� Leaning forward, he grinned at his companion. �Or am I gonna have to beat some gratitude into your thick head?�
Inuyasha stood with a snort, then kicked some dirt on the fire to smother it. �Yeah, right. Let�s get going.�
Kouga made as f to stand up, then crouched and sprang at the hanyou, tackling him around the waist. The force carried both of them to the ground, where they rolled several times before stopping, Inuyasha on the bottom. Kouga pinned the other boy�s arms on either side of his head and grinned down at him impishly. �Nuh-uh. Not till you thank me.�
Growling, Inuyasha kicked out with his legs, managing to flip the pair over. �No way!� he yelled, but his eyes twinkled with laughter. �You should thank me for not leaving you here while you were sleeping like a log.�
Kouga rolled his eyes, twisting to get Inuyasha underneath him again. �Sure, then I�d have to track you down when you got lost,� he retorted, then grinned down at the boy. �Let�s just say you owe me one,� he said, climbing off and holding his hand out to help the other to his feet.
Inuyasha grunted in annoyance, but allowed Kouga to pull him up. �Yeah, whatever.� He started gathering up their supplies, leaving Kouga to put on his armor.

As he waited for the wolf to finish dressing, Inuyasha stared off in the distance. In the clear air, a shadowy range of mountains was barely visible ahead of them. �Oi, wolf,� he called over his shoulder. �That where we�re going?�
Walking toward him, Kouga looked up from buckling his shoulder strap. �Yeah. Hey, we�re closer than I thought!� He grinned, the possibility of reaching their destination cheering him immensely. �I bet we can get there in a couple days... if you can keep up,� he teased, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
As usual, Inuyasha retorted, �You�d better keep up with me!� before taking off running in what had become their daily race.
***

Two days later, the companions made their camp at the base of Mt. Fu�un. The thick, choking smell of sulfur lingered in the hazy air surrounding the mountain, and a low, ominous rumble permeated the ground. The boys decided to climb to the peak in the morning, neither wanting to attempt the treacherous journey in the dark.
During his turn on watch, Inuyasha shivered and tucked his hands into the folds of his jacket. The ominous air around the volcano brought back unpleasant memories of fighting Naraku. Kouga shifted and murmured in his sleep, and Inuyasha wondered if the wolf demon felt it too. An oppressive presence seemed to bear down on them, as if willing them to turn back from their quest.

Inuyasha found himself unconsciously clutching at the Shikon jewel in its pouch around his neck. Despite what he had said to Kouga, he couldn�t help but feel that he was going to be destroying the last remnant of Kagome�s soul. Would he really be able to cast it into the fire? Taking a deep breath, the hanyou steeled his intentions and tried to prepare himself for the trials of the next day. �I�m so sorry, Kagome,� he murmured. Speaking aloud seemed to help. �It has to be this way. This is the last... the only thing I can do for you.� He knew it now. This was his last purpose in life: to make sure that Kagome�s sacrifice was not in vain.
His back to his friend, Kouga slowly opened his eyes. He could hear every one of the softly spoken words, and each seemed to drive a dagger into his gut. The rational part of his mind knew that this had to be done, but at the moment he wanted nothing more than to turn over and plead with Inuyasha for a chance to use the jewel. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to remain in control. This task would be difficult enough without more doubts clouding their minds. He tried to relax and go back to sleep, but it was impossible in the dark air.
***

The next morning found both boys struggling up the rocky face of the mountain. The very air itself seemed to press back against them, as if some malevolent force wished to deny their ascent. Kouga growled in irritation as they stopped for rest on a narrow ledge. �Dammit, what the hell�s up with this mountain?� He swiped at the sweat on his forehead, and his hand came away grey with caked ash. �Ugh.�

Inuyasha didn�t reply, only sat still with his head bowed. It may have been his imagination, but he could almost feel the Shikon jewel pulsing in time with the beat of his heart. He was torn between the desire to complete this quest, and the pressing need to get away from this place. He had no idea what would happen once the jewel was destroyed; he only knew that he had to do it.

Kouga groaned and pushed to his feet, ready to start again. �Let�s get going,� he said, then bent his knees and leapt up to the next ledge. �Come on, there�s... augh!! His arms flailed as the porous volcanic rock crumbled beneath his feet. His hand caught and held, but the rock it gripped soon disintegrated. With a cry, Kouga fell backwards into open air.
Inuyasha�s head jerked up at the sharp yelp from the wolf. He flattened himself against the cliff face as the breaking rocks tumbled past. Glancing up, he saw Kouga falling toward him. Without even having to think, he lunged forward and grabbed his friend�s wrist, falling forward and pressing against the ground to brace himself.
The abrupt stop nearly jerked Kouga�s shoulder out of its socket. He automatically twisted his hand and clasped at the rescuing arm, looking up to see Inuyasha�s worried face. A few seconds later, he found himself on the ledge next to the hanyou, his heart thundering in his ears.
�Dammit, be careful, you clumsy wolf!� Inuyasha yelled, his hand still gripping Kouga�s wrist.

Kouga couldn�t seem to make his hand unclench. He looked down at his fingers, clenched in Inuyasha�s haori, but was unable to will himself to release the red cloth. �Ah...� he panted, then took a deep, shaky breath. �Guess we�re even now.�
Inuyasha laughed, a quick huff of air. �Heh, you wish. You owe me now.� He finally let go of Kouga�s arm and moved to stand up, looking toward the mountaintop.

Kouga forced himself to let go as well, taking another deep breath to calm his nerves. Climbing a mountain like this should be a cinch�what was his problem this time? He�d grown up in the mountains near here... had spent his childhood leaping from cliff to cliff. Shaking his head slightly, he resolved to be more careful.
Several hours later, the two were finally reaching the volcano�s summit. Kouga lead the way, but he almost continually looked back at Inuyasha, making sure that he was still following. He was concerned; the hanyou�s face was deathly pale underneath the smudges of ash and dirt, and he was moving as though he were underwater. Reaching the final ledge, Kouga flinched as he felt the heat radiating off the crater. He turned and crouched at the edge, reaching down to offer Inuyasha a hand. �Come on, mutt. We�re almost there.�
Inuyasha stared blankly at the extended hand, then finally grabbed on and struggled up to the narrow shelf. For a long time, the two boys simply stood and gazed down at the angrily bubbling pit. �Well,� Kouga breathed. �This is it. Go ahead.�
Slowly, Inuyasha pulled the pouch over his head and held it in his hand. The jewel was pulsing in earnest now, as if it had some cognizance of the hanyou�s intentions. �Kagome...� Inuyasha whispered. Could he really do this? Could he go through with it? Doubts and worries filled his mind, freezing him with indecision.
Kouga bit his lip, watching the play of emotions on his friend�s face. He knew. He knew what the hanyou was thinking, as clearly as if he�d spoken aloud. Yet, as much as he wanted to, he also knew that he could not simply grab the jewel and race away. Reaching out, he placed his hand over Inuyasha�s, covering the pouch. �You... we can do it,� he said softly. Inuyasha looked up, meeting Kouga�s gaze. His eyes searched for a long moment, then he nodded slowly.

Moving around behind Inuyasha, Kouga slid his hand up to the other�s shoulder. �Go on.� Inuyasha took a deep breath and held it, rearing his arm back. With a loud yell, he flung the pouch and jewel as hard as he could toward the pit. As the small object fell toward the abyss, Inuyasha sank to his knees. The jewel�such a tiny thing, to have their lives revolve around it�finally hit the molten rock with an inauspicious plop, sinking toward oblivion without protest.
Kouga let out the breath he hadn�t realized he�d been holding, then squeezed Inuyasha�s shoulder. �It�s over,� he whispered. The hanyou nodded numbly, his eyes still fixed on the spot where the soul of his love disappeared.

The two rested in silence for a moment, each lost in his thoughts of finality and grief. Suddenly, all the hairs on the back of Kouga�s neck stood on end as a warning rumble sounded and the ground beneath his feat trembled ominously. �Hey... let�s get out of here,� he said, tugging on Inuyasha�s shoulder. The other didn�t move, and a few moments later a louder rumble emanated from the mountain as the crater below them began to bubble angrily. �Oi! Dog-breath!� Kouga yelled, hoping to snap his companion out of this funk. �Did�ya hear me?�
At that, Inuyasha slowly raised his head, his dulled golden eyes finally meeting Kouga�s. �I heard you,� he replied in a flat monotone. He rose to his feet stiffly, as if a great weight rode upon his back.
Kouga studied him with a pang of concern. Inuyasha should be feeling better now that the jewel was destroyed�-right? �I�m thinking this mountain wants us off, y�know? Let�s get the hell out of here.� His words were punctuated by another, stronger tremor of the ground beneath them. He turned to start down, hoping the hanyou would have enough sense to follow. A relieved sigh escaped him as he heard Inuyasha get to his feet.
The two boys skidded and ran down the slope of the mountain, occasionally stumbling as the rocks shook under their feet. They were most of the way down, running along the edge of a steep gorge when the ground convulsed violently underneath them, sending them tumbling over the side. Kouga flailed, struggling for purchase on the falling rocks, but there was nothing to hold in the dust and chaos. Finally, he hit the bottom of the ravine with a grunt, landing on his hands and knees. Looking up, he saw Inuyasha fall on his back a few feet away, and he crawled over to make sure his companion was all right. �Oi, mutt!� he shouted, poking at the hanyou�s shoulder. �You still alive?�
Inuyasha gasped for air, as though the wind had been knocked out of him, then slowly pushed himself upright without a word. Kouga was about to ask again if he was all right when the strongest tremor yet shook the earth. Looking up, Kouga felt his heart skip a beat as a towering plume of lava and smoke belched forth from the top of the volcano, sending ash and rocks shooting up to rain down on them. An unearthly howl of pain and rage filled the air, swirling through the dust and debris like a physical thing and sending a chill through Kouga. We�ve got to get out of here. Now.
Grabbing Inuyasha�s sleeve and giving a sharp tug, Kouga took off running away from the mountain, his eyes searching for a way back up. He glanced back to make sure the hanyou was following, and his eyes widened in horror. A fissure had opened in the side of the volcano, sending a cascade of molten rock sliding down the steep face. The gorge the two were in was acting as a natural channel for the lava, carrying it quickly toward them. Without waiting any longer, Kouga launched himself up the side of the ravine, his toes finding niches in the rock to cling to as he scrambled to the top.
After reaching the top of the cliff, Kouga took several steps before he realized that Inuyasha was no longer behind him. Skidding to a halt, he turned back, squinting against the choking grey dust that was falling like snow. He could barely catch a glimpse of red below him, and he cursed, leaping back down into the narrow valley. Inuyasha was standing motionless, his back to the wolf demon, calmly watching the river of lava as it flowed toward him. �What are you doing, mutt-face?� Kouga yelled, but the boy didn�t flinch.

Putting on an extra burst of speed, Kouga reached his companion mere moments before the molten rock covered the spot. Throwing the catatonic hanyou over his shoulder, he scaled the rock face in several large bounds, sweating from the searing heat below. Once he touched down at the top of the cliff, he took off running as far away from the cursed mountain as possible.

After a few miles of running, Kouga heard Inuyasha moan and cough. Suddenly, the hanyou�s body stiffened. �Let me go,� he groaned.
Kouga shook his head. �No way. We�re getting out of here.�
Inuyasha began to struggle, twisting and kicking in an effort to break Kouga�s hold. �I said, let me go!� he yelled. �I... I have to go back...�
The wolf youkai slid to a halt and flopped the writhing Inuyasha onto the ground. �What?� he growled.
Scrambling to his feet, the hanyou immediately turned in the direction of Mount Fu�un. �I have to go back,� he mumbled. �She�s calling me...� With that, he took off running back the way they had just come.
Kouga was frozen with shock for a few seconds before he turned to follow. Speed was one thing he�d always had over the other, and he caught up before Inuyasha could get very far. This time, he didn�t take any chances, tackling the hanyou and bringing them both crashing to the ground. The pair rolled several times, kicking up clumps of dirt and grass before coming to a halt with the wolf youkai on top.
Kouga pinned Inuyasha to the ground, straddling his waist and holding his arms tightly to his sides. The irony of the situation was not lost on the wolf. He recognized this position as almost the exact reverse of what had transpired before, when he�d been in the depths of a near-suicidal depression. Leaning close to the other�s face, he asked almost the same question that Inuyasha had, all those months before.
�What the hell are you trying to do, mutt-face?�
Inuyasha struggled, but was unable to break free of Kouga�s strong grip. �I... have to go back... she�s calling me...� he repeated, his voice plaintive.
�Who? Who�s calling you?� Kouga asked, shivering at the blank expression on the other�s face.
�Kagome... she wants me to go with her.� Kouga�s blood ran cold as Inuyasha began to struggle more fiercely. �Let me go!�

Kouga released one of Inuyasha�s arms, but only to deliver a stinging punch to the other man�s face. Grabbing the hanyou by the front of his haori, he pulled him up so they were nose-to-nose. �What the fuck are you talking about? You really think Kagome would want you to die?� Seeing some of the glazed look fade from the other�s eyes, he continued. �Whatever you heard, it wasn�t her, you got that? And I�m not about to let you go back there and kill yourself, so just give it up!�
An angry spark flashed in Inuyasha�s eyes, and he pushed forward, causing Kouga to sit back a bit. �Why the hell do you care?� he snarled. �It�s over, our quest is done, why should it matter to you what I do now?� His voice softened a bit. �It�s not like I have anything left to live for, anyway, so just leave me alone.�
The wolf prince shook his head. �You�re wrong!� he yelled, tightening his fist in the other�s shirt. �You do have things to live for, and I... I...� Unable to put words to what he was feeling, he leaned forward, squeezing his eyes shut and capturing Inuyasha�s mouth in a harsh kiss.
Both men froze in shock for a few long seconds. Then Kouga pulled away as abruptly as he had begun, putting a hand up to his mouth. �Oh gods...� he gasped, desperately searching Inuyasha�s face for a reaction, but the other�s expression was unreadably blank. The wolf youkai scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide. �I�I didn�t mean... I... I�m sorry!� With that, he turned and fled into the nearby trees, falling back on what he knew best.
To Be Continued...
- 7
- 8
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Solace